Journal of Social Sciences

Many Sources, One Theme: Analysis of Cyberbullying Prevention and Intervention Websites

Rebecca Ahlfors

DOI : 10.3844/jssp.2010.515.522

Journal of Social Sciences

Volume 6, Issue 4

Pages 515-522

Abstract

Problem statement: Cyberbullying represents the expansion of traditional bullying into the
electronic realm. As the problem of cyberbullying typically occurs via the Internet, many
cyberbullying prevention and intervention resources have been made available online. The purpose of
this qualitative study was to determine general characteristics of cyberbullying prevention and
intervention websites. This study was conducted as a preliminary survey of seventeen independent
cyberbullying prevention websites. Approach: Categories for analysis were developed following
consultation with three psychologists, one of whom specializes in online psycho educational
interventions. Each of the seventeen cyberbullying websites was then reviewed for the same variables
of target audience, main topics, use of published research and methods for relaying information.
Results: Fourteen of the websites are oriented toward informing parents and caregivers while seven
address latency aged children, eight address children ages eleven and twelve and eleven address
adolescents. Nine of the websites address educators and six provide information for law enforcement
professionals. The main topics consist of cyberbullying prevention and Internet safety tips, availability
of a commercial product, methods for managing cyberbullying, signs a child is experiencing
cyberbullying, information regarding the motivations for cyberbullying and miscellaneous but related
topics. Sixteen of the seventeen reviewed websites present information comparable to the information
found in empirically validated studies and ten of the websites list references to the published literature
on the site. Methods for relaying information include text only, interactive formats, videos, personal
stories, message board/blogs and newsletters. Conclusion/Recommendations: Psychological research
showed that victims of cyberbullying believe they should manage the problem on their own and rarely
confide in their parents. The results of analysis of the target audiences suggested that there is a
disconnection between Internet based cyberbullying interventions and the main target audiences. To
address this problem, future research should include evaluation of the accessibility and effectiveness of
cyberbullying psycho educational websites designed for youth. Other areas to be researched include
the potential negative consequences of online cyberbullying interventions and the need for Internet
based cyberbullying prevention websites designed for cyberbullies. A definite area in need of research
is on the efficacy of Internet based cyberbullying psycho educational sites in decreasing incidences of
cyberbullying.